{"id":12118,"date":"2016-04-27T12:02:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T19:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=12118"},"modified":"2016-04-28T15:01:00","modified_gmt":"2016-04-28T22:01:00","slug":"seven-rivers-district-laity-walking-together-in-truth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/seven-rivers-district-laity-walking-together-in-truth\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Rivers District Laity: Walking Together in Truth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"INSIGHTS_SevenRivers_Altar\"The Seven Rivers District Laity met at Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center to discuss difference facets of truth. This event was held on March 4-6, 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Seven Rivers District Laity:<\/em>
\nWalking Together in Truth<\/strong>
\nBy Karen Fisher | Photos by\u00a0Scott Klepach, Jr., David Reinholz, et. al.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t wisdom cry out and understanding shout? Atop the heights along the path, at the crossroads she takes her stand. By the gate before the city, at the entrance she shouts: I cry out to you, people; my voice goes out to all of humanity.\u201d Proverbs 8:1-4<\/em><\/center>
<\/center> <\/p>\n

Taking inspiration from the Wisdom scriptures, the Seven Rivers District laity gathered together at Lazy F Camp (Ellensburg, Wash.)<\/a> on March 4-6, 2016 to explore truth: the concept of truth, personal truth, biblical truth, and truth in community.<\/p>\n


\nWe explored truth as a currency using the Rev. Dr. Eric Law\u2019s book, \u201cHoly Currencies\u201d<\/a>. According to Law, \u201cJesus\u2019 life is the way to follow and the life to live, in order for us to be the truth. Truth is a way of being \u2013 a journey, a process, a spirituality, a relationship with God through Christ, a way to see the world as God sees it, and a way that leads to action to restore the blessings that flow from God to all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The retreat began Friday evening with \u201cDiscerning Truth\u201d presented by Sue Magrath of Leavenworth UMC. We talked about wisdom, truths that stand in opposition, truth claims, and core convictions versus opinions. We watched a TED talk called \u201cThe Danger of a Single Story\u201d about how single stories create stereotypes. Sue introduced \u201cListen\u201d, a song that we would sing throughout the weekend:<\/p>\n

Listen to the Word that God has spoken
\nListen to the One who is close at hand
\nListen to the Word that began Creation
\nListen even if you don\u2019t understand<\/em><\/p>\n

\"INSIGHTS_SevenRivers_JuneDarling\"June Darling leads a session on “Personal Truth” at the Seven Rivers District Laity gathering.<\/em><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

On Saturday morning, we moved to \u201cPersonal Truth\u201d presented by June and John Darling, from Cashmere UMC. This session focused on the question, \u201cHow do we take personal truth out into the world as a blessing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday afternoon\u2019s presentation was Biblical Truth. Mitzi Casey, from Wesley UMC, and Larry Gorley, from Goldendale UMC, led the discussion centered on honoring everyone\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n

The topic on Sunday morning was \u201cTruth in Community\u201d, led by myself. We talked about communities and the dynamics of those that make up our communities.<\/p>\n

We ended the retreat with worship and communion that included an interactive sermon led by District Superintendent the Rev. Juli Reinholz. We were divided into pairs, given a parable and asked, \u201cWhat is God calling us to do?\u201d and \u201cWho is our community?\u201d<\/p>\n

Our sessions included personal, silent, reflective time, as well as, group interaction and sharing. We had free time, game time, community time and ended each night with evening prayer. We made new friends, reconnected with others, found quiet time for renewal, and learned.<\/p>\n

\"INSIGHTS_SevenRivers_LazyF\"<\/p>\n

A view from the bridge at Lazy F. What thoughts come to mind when meditating on different kinds of truth?<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n
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 <\/p>\n

Many found inspiration\u2026as shown in the following reflection, prayer and poem:<\/p>\n

Reflection
\nI stand at the bridge
\nOverlooking the rushing waters at Lazy F Camp
\nI cannot stop the stream from flowing.
\nIf I face it head-on, it still rushes against me
\nAnd keeps on going
\nIf I face the direction of its flow,
\nIt will continue on
\nWhether I stand there, follow it, or leave the water entirely<\/em><\/p>\n

Remains of snow fight the changing season<\/em>
\n The snow isn’t smooth, but contains dips and pockets<\/em>
\n Like each of us<\/em>
\n With a multitude of features<\/em>
\n What if we explored all of those pockets?<\/em>
\n What would we find before the snow melts<\/em>
\n And gives way to the next season?<\/em><\/p>\n

In my prayer I traversed the paths,<\/em>
\n My feet leading me back through the dining lodge,<\/em>
\n Questions like streams rushing<\/em>
\n When I opened the door to go outside again<\/em>
\n Kaya, the camp dog, was there to greet me.<\/em>
\n There, in her presence and greeting<\/em>
\n An unexpectedly sweet, silent, and temporary companion,<\/em>
\n I found the beginning an answer to a prayer<\/em>
\n That is yet unfolding.<\/em><\/p>\n

-Scott Klepach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another participant found a Muslim prayer that spoke to God’s continued presence in her life during especially difficult times. It affirmed that no matter who we are, or what we have been through…God knows our hearts.<\/p>\n

I thank you Lord, for knowing me better than I know myself,
\nAnd for letting me know myself better than others know me.
\nMake me, I ask you then, better than others know me.
\nMake me, I ask you then, better than they suppose,
\nAnd forgive me for what they do not know.<\/em><\/p>\n

-From “Thanks Be to God”, by Pauline Baynes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meditation on the Body of Christ \u2013 1 Corinthians 12:13<\/p>\n

What have you seen that I have not seen?
\nWhere have you traveled that I have not been?
\nWhat music did you hear when I heard only silence?
\nWhat language did your lips speak that still remains a mystery to me?<\/em><\/p>\n

You have climbed mountains and gazed at the distant view.<\/em>
\n Perhaps you know what lies beyond the next turn in this road.<\/em>
\n You have survived hardship that I only know to fear.<\/em>
\n You have stood on the brink of death, and beyond.<\/em>
\n I need companions to help me find the way; to find sustenance, shelter, and rest.<\/em><\/p>\n

We need one another to be healthy and whole.<\/em>
\n We are alike, and we are different.<\/em>
\n We can learn from one another, and serve one another.<\/em>
\n We will celebrate the differences that make us whole together;<\/em>
\n \u201c\u2026until we feast together at that heavenly banquet.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

-Janet Erickson<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Special thanks to Kyle Franklin.<\/em><\/center>
Karen Fisher is a member of Wenatchee First UMC.<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Seven Rivers District Laity met at Lazy F Camp & Retreat Center to discuss difference facets of truth. This event was held on March 4-6, 2016.   Seven Rivers District Laity: Walking Together in Truth By Karen Fisher | Photos by\u00a0Scott Klepach, Jr., David Reinholz, et. al. \u201cDoesn\u2019t wisdom cry out and understanding shout? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":12135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[111,6,93,384,385],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12118","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-channels","8":"category-conversation","9":"category-devotional","10":"category-districts","11":"category-seven-rivers-district"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/INSIGHTS_SevenRivers.jpg?fit=741%2C486&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2l75j-39s","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12118"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12160,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12118\/revisions\/12160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}